A facile synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted furo[2,3-b]pyridines

In a three-step sequence starting from readily available starting materials, 2,3-carbon disubstituted furo[2,3-b]pyridines can be accessed in good yields and purity. Furo[2,3-b]pyridines bearing ester, amide and ketone groups at the 2-position can be prepared with a variety of aryl and alkyl groups at the 3-position.